GrainGrowers congratulates Boyd Carter from Wubin, WA who graduated from the Australian Grain Farm Leaders Program in 2016 and this week was awarded a 2018 Nuffield Scholarship supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

During the 12 month AGFLP program, Boyd was interested in understanding how farmers make decisions about their businesses in order to develop a decision making matrix that can be shared and used with confidence by growers across his region and beyond.

Prior to commencing the AGFLP, Boyd implemented on farm a controlled traffic farming system using “tram tracks” to separate the crop zone from traffic areas, auto steer in his machinery, variable rate technology, on farm storage, no till, a ‘double knock’ system to manage herbicide resistance, and he uses a Weedseeker to apply his agricultural chemicals more efficiently. Since completing the program he has a better understanding of these systems and has improved their quality.

He has committed to progressing his own leadership in the grains industry and applied for a 2018 Nuffield Scholarship as part of his leadership journey. Boyd will investigate the ‘robotic revolution’ and what growers can do to prepare for increased autonomous technology on-farm.

The AGFLP program has been run by GrainGrowers for the past 10 years to support the development of emerging grain industry leaders.

To date, more than 20 young leaders from the Western Region (covering the grain growing regions of WA and SA) have graduated from the program. Six AGFLP graduates have gone on to be selected for the Nuffield Scholarship program.

Applications are closing soon for the 2018 Australian Grain Leaders Program.

For the first time in many years, GrainGrowers is offering the 2018 program to the full grains industry, not just exclusively to farmers.

“The Australian Grain Leaders Program is the pivotal program for grain industry leadership development in Australia, driving excellence in our own industry,” said GrainGrowers’ CEO, Dr Michael Southan.

“The program aims to develop the personal and professional leadership skills and knowledge of emerging young leaders in the grains industry, widening their horizons and increasing their understanding of the broader issues in the industry.

“We have widened the intake for next year’s program with the intention of attracting a mix of farmers, executives and workers from across all sectors of the industry to build greater rapport and understanding of how the industry’s different sectors can work cooperatively together to build stronger outcomes for all,” he said.

The 2018 AGLP is open for up to 10 emerging leaders in the grains industry and is best suited to people committed to the future of the Australian grains industry, who are:

Aged between 21 and 40 years and Australian citizens

Actively involved in the grain industry or planning to take up grain production

Keen to enhance Australia’s grains industry leadership, and

Keen to develop personal and professional leadership knowledge and skills.

AGLP has been developed by GrainGrowers in association with RuralScope, a leading provider of leadership programs, coaching and capability building solutions in Australia’s rural and agricultural sectors.

“Grain farmers who wish to develop their leadership skills are invited to apply for the program before the deadline at the end of September,” said Dr Southan.

“In addition, we invite grains industry businesses to sponsor promising employees aged 21-40 who show leadership potential and who would benefit from increasing their leadership training and industry knowledge.”

Each participant selects a project they wish to work on for the duration of the program which will benefit their own enterprise and/or the grains industry as a whole.

The 12-month program features three face to face group gatherings and multiple individualised one on one phone sessions. It is based on an integrated model of modern leadership theory, skills development, enterprise and industry engagement, and application. The facilitator will guide the progress of the individual’s project and mentor individuals on their leadership journey throughout the program.

Growers who would like to participate or nominate a potential leader aged between 21 and 40 to represent the Western Region, should apply before Friday, 29 September.